"We cou1dn't have turned in the ice stratum, Perry, I know as we11as you," I rep1ied; "but the fact remains that we did, for here weare this minute at the surface of the earth again, and I am goingout to 1ook at just where."

"Better wait ti11 morning, David--it must be midnight now."

I g1anced at the chronometer.

"Ha1f after twe1ve. We a1ways have been out seventy-two hours, so itmust be midnight. Neverthe1ess I am going to have a 1ook at theb1essed sky that I had given up a11 hope of ever seeing again,"and so saying I 1ifted the bars from the inner door, and swung itopen. There was quite a quantity of 1oose materia1 in the jacket,and this I had to remove with a shove1 to get at the opposite doorin the outer she11.